Coach, GM for 2025-26

[F86puck]

Good coaches are important, but I admit I sometimes question the value of the high-priced coach. Like paying top dollar for coach who won a Stanley Cup, but struggles to repeat that magic. Gee, maybe it was the players. And coaches who do poorly sometimes come back and do well. True he's just an assistant but Colliton is doing well with NJ, wouldn't be surprised if someone gives him a chance again now that he's learned from his Blackhawks experience. Honestly it's hard to see worse than Sorensen right now. The players are so down and the culture is just awful. Bedard's confidence is shot, did he win a single faceoff yesterday? Not a rhetorical question, I think he was 0 for 6.

Ideas for 2025-26? Who do we want that is reasonably priced and can instill some culture here? Do we like an AHL/NCAA head coach to make the jump, or do we prefer an NHL assistant coach? I wonder which is better though I don't get offering tons for a popular coach from a lower level (eg David Carle). Sure, maybe hire one, but not for astronomical dollars. Jay Leach maybe given his NHL experience as an assistant?

And for that matter, I guess we need a GM who knows how to find some talent, but I'm less familiar with available GMs. I will say I cannot stand signing older players for "leadership." So overblown. We need TALENTED players.

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[Toews2Bickell]

Sullivan to the Hawks, Q to Pittsburgh

 

[Paul Allen]

KD isn’t going anywhere.

 

[Hawkaholic]

New GM? lol

 

[Pez68]

Another poster who thinks teams should find new GMs mid-rebuild? Lol

 

[HLLYWD99]

KD isn’t going anywhere.

Then neither are The BlackHawks!
KD SUCKS!!!!

 

[Hawkaholic]

KD may not be it, but he deserves at least another off season and season to see if he can get good deals done, and how the prospects perform after another year of growth. Still too early to be 100% on either side.

 

[Pez68]

KD may not be it, but he deserves at least another off season and season to see if he can get good deals done, and how the prospects perform after another year of growth. Still too early to be 100% on either side.

His first draft year isn't even developed yet and actually looks pretty damn good. To say it's too early is an understatement.

 

[TheFridge]

The amount of fans that don't understand what a rebuild entails is staggering.

 

[F86puck]

His first draft year isn't even developed yet and actually looks pretty damn good. To say it's too early is an understatement.

Fair enough. Though I will say, rebuilds don't happen overnight, but would you not agree they should be progressive. He was hired 3 years ago. Last year, 31st place out of 32 teams. This year, 31st place out of 32 teams. That's not progress. I know the game too, and a rebuild is not an excuse for dismal performance with no evidence of progression. Now if he opens his wallet and gets real players and not mediocrity like Bertuzzi/Teravainen, I will say good, but wish he did it earlier. And, his cornerstone for the future should not be doing worse at age 19 than he did at age 18. Sure, some of that is on the coach, but also the GM. The GM is not only about getting the right 18/19 year-old draft picks, it's about getting the right acquisitions/trades too.

 

[LavalPhantom]

Fair enough. Though I will say, rebuilds don't happen overnight, but would you not agree they should be progressive. He was hired 3 years ago. Last year, 31st place out of 32 teams. This year, 31st place out of 32 teams. That's not progress. I know the game too, and a rebuild is not an excuse for dismal performance with no evidence of progression. Now tif he opens his wallet and gets real players and not mediocrity like Bertuzzi/Teravainen, I will say good, but wish he did it earlier. And, his cornerstone for the future should not be doing worse at age 19 than he did at age 18. Sure, some of that is on the coach, but also the GM. The GM is not only about getting the right 18/19 year-old draft picks, it's about getting the right acquisitions/trades too.

I prefer tank years to be deep tank years. But when they start making progress they need to access the playoffs quickly. No no-mans-land years ideally.
So I don’t mind drafting top 2-3 for three years in a row.

 

[Behn Wilson]

Domi was so good on faceoffs as a Hawk. That is a huge element that is missing this year

 

[BobbyJet]

KD may not be it, but he deserves at least another off season and season to see if he can get good deals done, and how the prospects perform after another year of growth. Still too early to be 100% on either side.

Agreed .... but the leash is getting shorter.